First Corinthians Inside Out
A study that looks at First Corinthians from a different perspective. Continue reading
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- Uisdean M on Jonah FOUR: Part Two
- Uisdean-M on The Epistle to the Philippians
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Tobit: Conclusion
The conclusion of TOBIT. Some of my thoughts and plenty of space for you to offer your thoughts.
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TOBIT: An Introduction
In this third Bible Study we will be studying a fun story. One that has angels and demons and miracles and heroes. Instead of chapter by chapter, I’m going to offer some information in this introduction and then ask you to read the entire story. After you read it, return… Continue reading
Jonah FOUR: Part Two
…It does not matter if the story is “literally” true (I think it must be…Jonah would not make this up) or an “allegory” to illustrate a point…or both. What matters is that we make the attempt to understand the Spiritual Truth God is revealing to us through his prophet. Continue reading
Jonah FOUR: part one
But…he uses the words God gives him. And the people repent. Israel had seen Elijah order a drought and then watched as God lit a fire on Mount Carmel. They had witnessed the great miracles of Elisha. And yet they refused to listen. We do not know what happened to Jonah. But Amos and Hosea followed him. And still the people would not listen. But Nineveh did listen. And God postponed their destruction. Continue reading
Jonah THREE
We can speculate all sorts of things here. Let’s not. Can we just accept this at face value? Jonah was so effective as a prophet of God that the people of Nineveh understood his message. They believed him. And they repented. Continue reading
Jonah Chapter TWO
We want a god that will do as we desire. We need a God that will send a big fish.—The glorious news is that He sent His Own Son to us instead. You see, He really does Love us. Continue reading
Jonah ONE: 7-17
So, as they grab Jonah’s hands and feet and start swinging, they cry in anguish to Yahweh that HE would not hold this murderous act against them. I cannot help but laugh. It’s an uneasy laugh…but I do laugh. Continue reading
Jonah ONE: 3-6
The storm does not bother Jonah. He’s below decks sleeping contentedly…There are several ways we can trust God. First is the best way, the way Jesus trusted God: completely. Jonah, sleeping below decks in the storm, also trusted God. Continue reading
Jonah: Introduction
The story of Jonah is a fabulous tale. Children love it because it is funny…I believe God laughs at us…frequently. However, it is a viewpoint that reveals God’s Mercy and God’s Grace. Continue reading
Philippians FOUR: 18-23
You will notice that I have included vs. 18-20 in this final lesson, even though they were included in the previous one. Well, they are sort of a transition into the closing doxology and greetings. But more than that, The Asbury Commentary suggests that some ‘ancient texts’ read this as “May God supply…” Which, if that’s the case, really does move these two verses into the closing remarks. Continue reading
Philippians FOUR: 10-20
Fourth, we really need to learn to be content. God gave us the Tenth Commandment because He understood our discontent. ‘The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence’ sums it up very nicely. Continue reading
Philippians FOUR: 4-9
We have reached the pinnacle of “Mount Philippians”. Three of these four verses are quoted frequently – very frequently –by many Christians…We pull these verses out of context, using them in ways that, to me, make them sound like platitudes. Continue reading
Philippians FOUR: 1-3
We have a proverb in our church: “It’s not about you; It’s not about me; It’s about the Kingdom.” …However, there are actually three possibilities: 1. The two ladies were in an argument with each other. 2. The two ladies were offended together over some non-theological argument. 3. The two ladies had begun to promote a theology that differed from that of St. Paul. Continue reading
Philippians THREE: 17-21
So, instead of being intimidated by this vision of Christ in total obedience to God such that every knee will bow, imitate a man who is a sinner, but is striving to keep his focus on the “finish line”. Imitate a man who is not “perfect” but is seeking to be a “mature” Christian. Continue reading
Philippians THREE: 12-17
Consider how an athlete runs his race. He watches his opponents and does his best to avoid letting them trip him. For, if he sees you passing him, your opponent may try to trip you. Sin is like that. It sees you ‘running past’ and does its best to trip you. That’s part of the race. Not every one is honorable. You must be on the lookout. Nor should you ‘look back’. Paul tells us that he is “stretching forward”. Continue reading
Philippians THREE:4-11
In this passage St. Paul opens up to us with his Jewish claim. No one, he says, can claim a greater heritage, a greater right to boast of his Jewishness, than he. Notice vs. 5. “Hebrew of Hebrews” according to one commentator, means that he has no Gentile ancestors. Not even Jesus can claim that! Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba were not Israelite women. If that is what Paul is actually claiming, then he has more claim than David. Continue reading
Philippians THREE :1-3
When I first looked at vs. 1-3 my thinking was about legalism. I’ve pondered this and I still think that’s the issue. In Paul’s day it centered on the Circumcision Party…God was setting His People, the Hebrews, the Israelites, apart from the rest of the world. He wanted them to understand that they were different. They belonged to Him. Circumcision marked them as His. Continue reading
Philippians TWO: 25-30
These verses are, I think, self-explanatory. Most of the information I found either restates the obvious or gets into some interesting speculation. If you are ready for a break and would like to do things differently, then this lesson will be refreshing… I provided these links just in case there was something here that might interest you. Continue reading
Philippians TWO: 19-24
…explain in detail the situation as Paul, Timothy and, apparently, Epaphroditus see it. It seems to me that Epaphroditus not only brought a gift to Paul and Timothy, but he also came seeking their advice and help. Continue reading
Philippians TWO: 12-18 The Light In The World
“Lord Jesus, we are humbled by the thought that you made us out of the same stuff that stars are made. So, may we shine with your Light, illuminating truth wherever we go.” … tells us that the word means “a cause of light, a star” and indicates that the word appears… Continue reading
Philippians TWO:12-18–Working Out Salvation
Think of how that astronomer will react to a sunrise. For him it can only be the horizon moving down, the Earth turning and carrying him ever so slightly toward the Sun… Would it not fill him with ‘fear and trembling’ to watch and see the Truth being worked out? Continue reading
Philippians TWO: 5-11
This is not, they say, “universal salvation” but it is instead, “universal recognition”. I think they are close, if not correct. For I truly think that everyone really does know. As Bill Cosby once joked about earthquakes in California: when the ground shakes everyone looks up.But all this misses what I think is St. Paul’s point. His subject is humility and obedience to God. Continue reading
Philippians TWO:1-5
Apparently, Corinth was not the only church with a bickering, divided congregation. And that bothers me. I had been told all my life that Philippians was the letter of rejoicing. I’ve read through the New Testament a number of times and, because I had been told in advance what this letter was supposedly about, I thought I had read and understood it. Continue reading